TOEFLスピーキング Task 3

The concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. This mental block prevents individuals from imagining alternative uses for familiar objects, thereby hindering creative problem-solving. When faced with a novel task, people often fail to see beyond an object's conventional function, even when that function is irrelevant to the current challenge. Overcoming functional fixedness requires a conscious effort to reframe the object's potential roles, which can lead to innovative solutions.

Professor: So, let me give you a classic example from my own research. In one study, participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to a wall such that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Most people tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it—both failed. They were stuck because they saw the box only as a container for tacks. The solution? Empty the box, tack it to the wall as a shelf, and place the candle inside. Once participants realized the box could serve as a platform rather than just a holder, they solved it easily. This shows how functional fixedness—seeing the box only as a tack container—prevented them from using it creatively.